SME Series V

Description

Recognising the potential of the latest complementary equipment, SME’s engineers accepted the challenge of designing and building a pick-up arm which, unlike existing ones, The work lasted nearly four years and the measure of its success is the acceptance of the Series V precision pick-up arm by technical experts and users as one of the world's finest audio products. The V sound has a dynamic range and near-surprising neutrality that allow high levels to be enjoyed. It escapes the ‘LP’ sound and demonstrates that structural resonances in microphone arms are responsible for much of what makes vinyl records easily discernible from master tapes

. The structure of a pick-up arm seems simple but in reality is very complex. All cartridges employ a relative movement between the armature and stator portions of a generator system to produce the signal output. Therefore, reproduction can only be true when all the movement representing the groove modulation is performed by the armature to which the stylus cantilever is attached and none by the stator represented by the cartridge body. Unless the pick-up arm restrains it against the slightest movement at audio frequencies, the signal will be modified in some way. The result is a subtle loss of clarity, dynamic range and transient attack that can make even the best system tiring to listen to.

Specifications:

• Exclusive single-piece die-cast arm that utilises the advantages of magnesium and replaces conventional fabricated construction.
• The constrained inner layer dampens minimal residual vibrations, leaving the tone arm acoustically inert.
• Finely machined cartridge platform, unglazed to prevent resonance at the interface.
• Stainless steel cross-shaft, ground and thread-ground. Carried in a massive yoke on 10 mm ABEC 7 ball races. Shaft at a record mid-level to minimise warp-wow.
• The dynamically balanced graduated vertical tracking force (VTF) control applies 0-3 g x 0.125 g via a resonance-controlled spring.
• The unique assembly provides high rigidity and allows the bearings to be critically adjusted before installing the tonearm.
• Ground and threaded stainless steel vertical shaft, with a 16 mm diameter integral flange for coupling the shaft and the yoke.
• 23 mm diameter heat-treated, ground and polished steel pillar, featuring two widely spaced 17 mm ABEC 7 ball races to resist tilting.
• The anti-skate control works via a tension spring and a filament. The dial corresponds to VTF and has a positive OFF position.
• The lowering/raising control provides a smooth, positive action. The lift height can be adjusted.
• The subsonic lateral-mode fluid damper can be instantly adjusted or cancelled.
• The dual-locking base provides motion control with high rigidity.
• Tungsten alloy counterbalance supported by a two-point damped suspension. The extra-low inertia design aids warp drive.
• The suspended counterweight housing corrects the centre of gravity and provides a non-reflective tonearm termination. Adjustment spindle housed in two ball raceways with lever clamping.
• The damped and rotating output bush minimises the transmission of vibrations when used in subframes.
• Fine adjustment of the tonearm height (VTA).
• The reference lines on the arm make VTA setup easier.
• Fine adjustment of horizontal tracking angle (HTA).
• The new design alignment conveyor sets HTA with greater precision.
• The advanced template system guarantees correct positioning.